Research Priority Area

Research Location

Africa

Europe

Asia & Pacific

North & South America

PROGRESS

Point of care diagnostics to guide appropriate antimicrobial therapy of urinary tract infections in nursing homes

Objective

The first objective of this project is to assess the potential of two point-of-care tests to support the diagnosis of urinary tract infection in nursing home residents. The second objective is to evaluate how these tests can guide appropriate use of antibiotics in this population.

Description

The project consist of two distinct studies. The first is a matched diagnostic study in which point-of-care measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are compared for their test characteristics in diagnosing UTI in nursing home residents. The second study is a cluster randomized trial assessing the effect of access to the results of the point-of care test on frequency and duration of the prescription of antibiotics. Alongside these two studies, PROGRESS includes a social science component that addresses strategies needed to implement new diagnostic procedures, including adaptation by the health care staff, implementation in daily practice, and incorporation of new tests in local and national guidelines. The study in November 2017 included the first of the required 600 participants for the initial study.